The morning sun cut through the fog in thin rays as Agan and his friends gathered at the training ground, still carrying the warmth of the previous night’s festival in their hearts. But the mood was different today—sharper, more intense. Tarek waited for them, his expression serious as he studied each of their faces, the air around him heavy with purpose.

“Hope you all enjoyed the festival,” he said, his voice steady. “Because today, we’re getting back to work—and it’s going to be harder than before.”

Agan exchanged a glance with Garik and Aska. The ease of last night felt like a distant memory now, replaced by the familiar weight of their training. Around him, the others straightened, gripping their spears and preparing for whatever Tarek had planned.

“We’ve been working on strength and basic tactics,” Tarek continued, pacing in front of them. “But the time has come for you to learn something more crucial: teamwork. Out here, if you can’t trust the people beside you, you won’t survive. Each of you has strengths and weaknesses. Today, we’ll be testing both.”

He gestured toward the edge of the training ground, where a series of obstacles had been set up, each more daunting than the last. Fallen logs formed barriers, shallow pits were filled with murky water, and ropes hung from tree branches, swaying in the slight breeze.

“We’ll start with a basic exercise,” Tarek said, nodding to the obstacles. “I want you to work as a team to get from one end to the other. No one moves forward until everyone is ready. If one of you falls, the rest will pull them back up. Understand?”

They nodded, a quiet determination settling over them.

“Good,” Tarek said. “Garik, you’re leading. Agan, Aska, Karu—follow his lead and be ready to support each other. Remember, there’s no rush. Make sure every move is secure before taking the next step.”

Garik took a breath, casting a quick look at Agan and the others. His usual cockiness was tempered with a newfound seriousness, a recognition of the responsibility he’d been given.

“Alright,” he said, nodding to them. “Let’s do this.”

They moved toward the first obstacle—a fallen log lying across a shallow, murky pit. Agan stepped up beside Garik, eyeing the log with a mixture of determination and hesitation. It was slick with moss, the surface uneven and treacherous.

“Take it slow,” Garik said, gesturing for Agan and the others to follow his lead. “One step at a time. Keep your balance.”

Garik went first, his movements steady as he placed one foot in front of the other, using his spear to help him balance. Agan followed, his focus sharp as he adjusted his footing to avoid the slickest parts of the log. Aska and Karu moved behind him, their expressions tense but focused.

Halfway across, Garik slipped, his foot skidding over a patch of moss. Agan reacted instinctively, reaching out to steady him, his grip firm as he helped Garik regain his balance.

“Thanks,” Garik muttered, his face flushed with embarrassment.

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“No problem,” Agan replied, offering a quick grin. “We’re all in this together, right?”

They made it to the end of the log, and Garik helped Aska and Karu step down, each of them moving with caution as they regrouped on solid ground. Tarek watched from a distance, his gaze assessing but silent, letting them work through the challenge on their own.

The next obstacle was a low-hanging net strung between two trees, with wooden stakes placed beneath to discourage any careless mistakes. The net was just high enough to crawl under, but one wrong move could easily leave them tangled or worse.

Garik crouched down, eyeing the net as he turned to the group. “We’ll go one at a time. Agan, you go first—I’ll be right behind you.”

Agan nodded, dropping to his knees and crawling forward, his body tense as he maneuvered beneath the netting. The stakes were close, each one a reminder of what could happen if he wasn’t careful. He moved slowly, his hands gripping the ground as he inched forward.

The sounds of his friends following closely behind kept him focused, each movement measured and deliberate. Aska’s voice came in a low whisper from behind, steadying him. “You’re almost there, Agan. Keep going.”

Finally, he reached the end of the net and rolled free, breathing a sigh of relief as he waited for the others. Garik emerged next, followed by Aska and Karu, each of them dusting off their clothes and grinning with relief.

“Not bad,” Tarek called, his voice carrying a hint of approval. “But don’t let your guard down yet. You’re only halfway through.”

They nodded, feeling the weight of his words as they approached the next obstacle—a shallow pit of thick, muddy water, with ropes hanging above it. The only way across was to grab hold of the ropes and swing over the pit, a task that required strength and precision.

“Guess I’ll go first,” Garik said, gripping the rope and testing its weight.

He swung out over the pit, his body arcing through the air as he landed on the other side, barely keeping his balance. Agan followed, the rope cutting into his hands as he held on tightly, focusing on his landing as he swung to the other side. Aska and Karu crossed next, each of them managing the swing with a mixture of caution and determination.

But as Karu reached the edge, he slipped, his foot sliding in the mud as he lost his grip on the rope. He stumbled, nearly falling into the pit, but Agan and Garik grabbed him by the arms, pulling him back to solid ground.

“Close one,” Karu muttered, his face pale. “Thanks, guys.”

“Just keep your feet under you,” Garik said, his tone gentle but firm. “We need everyone to stay focused.”

They moved on, tackling each obstacle with a renewed sense of unity, a silent agreement that no one would be left behind. Agan felt the strength of their bond growing with each challenge, each moment of hesitation met with a helping hand, each stumble caught by the others.

When they finally reached the end, Tarek was waiting, his expression unreadable. He nodded, his gaze moving over each of them as he assessed their progress.

“Not bad,” he said, his voice calm but approving. “You worked together, kept your focus, and adapted to the obstacles. But remember, this is just the beginning. Out there, you’ll face challenges far greater than a few logs and ropes. You need to be ready for anything.”

Agan felt a surge of pride, a sense of accomplishment that went beyond his own effort. They had faced the challenges together, each of them contributing, each of them trusting the others. It was a small victory, but one that felt significant.

Tarek’s gaze softened, a rare smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “You did well. Now, go rest up. Tomorrow, we start on combat techniques, and I expect you all to bring the same focus and discipline.”

They nodded, dispersing with a sense of purpose and unity that lingered in the air. As they walked back toward the village, Karu let out a breath, shaking his head with a grin.

“Guess we’re not as terrible as I thought,” he said, his tone light but sincere.

Aska rolled her eyes, but there was a warmth in her smile. “Speak for yourself, Karu. I was always great.”

Garik laughed, clapping Karu on the back. “Just wait until tomorrow. Tarek’s got plenty more challenges up his sleeve.”